Week 1: Jan 1-7
This week I ventured to my go-to bakery, Sweet Hut, for a pastry to accompany my coffee. Sweet Hut is primarily an Asian American bakery, labeling most of their products in various languages such as Mandarin and Vietnamese in addition to English. I have been stopping by Sweet Hut for years now, not paying too much attention to the people around me but always knowing that the clientele was mostly Asian Americans. This past week, however, as I sat with my danish and coffee, I looked around and saw people with backgrounds from across the globe. From Indian to Asian to African American to Caucasian, it seemed as though every sect of America was represented here in this quaint little pastry shop. It was truly inspiring to watch as this once primarily Asian American business attracted such a diverse group of customers, bringing so many people together into one place.
Week 2: Jan 8-15
This week, while I was walking through the MLC, I overheard I conversation between two people studying at one of the tables. One girl was telling the other about her friend who Caucasian and was dating an African American. The girl had wanted to bring her boyfriend home to meet her parents over the winter break, but her father completely objected, refusing to believe his daughter would be dating someone who was not of her race. Honestly, I was shocked and appalled to overhear this conversation, and couldn't believe that this girl's father truly believed these ideas. I was proud that both girls within the conversation were appalled as well, and the support they had for their friend, stating she should date whomever she likes, regardless of race.
Week 3: Jan 16-23
This week I took a day trip to Winder, GA to watch the sunset at a golf-course with a spectacular view. While I was there, however, it struck me how lacking in diversity this town was. As I strolled through the town, getting lunch and browsing the shops, I noticed the prominance of Caucasians and the lack of all other races. Coming straight from UGA to this small town was a bit of culture shock, as the lack of diversity was a stark contrast to the diversity I encounter daily on campus. It was a harsh reminder that there are still many places not too far from home that are still lagging behind in diversity.
Week 4: Jan 24-31
This week I attended a lecture of a local author, just to see what all he had to say about his work and his life experiences. Sitting and waiting for his talk to begin, I noticed the diversity within the room. People from all various backgrounds and ethnicities lined the walls, all excitedly awaiting the words of the lecturer. I found it very comforting to see how literature and a love for words can span across cultures and backgrounds, creating common-ground and a shared interest that can bond us all.
Week 5: Feb 1-8
This week I was studying in the MLC with some friends of mine, all who are business majors. We shifted locations to be in a room where many other business majors were studying for an upcoming accounting test. As I sat and observed all of these like-minded people working toward the same goal, enthusiastically teaching each other and sharing ideas, I was overwhelmed with a sense of pride as the group contained so many races, languages and backgrounds, a flurry of ethnicities all coming together toward the same goal. It was a little thing, but a strong reminder of how we can all come together, regardless of race and background, and work to achieve the same goal.
Week 6: Feb 9-16
This week, I participated in a discussion regarding the Muslim band with a group of my peers at lunch. I personally am against the ban, as I feel it is wrong to deny someone access to our country on the basis of religious reasons, and see the ban as an embodiment of fear of a people and a religion most of us do not know enough about. Most of my peers agreed, but one man argued that the main cited reason for terrorist attacks within the US are radical religious beliefs. I disagreed with his opinion, stating that every religion has a radical portion of its spectrum, but that the diversity of religion and ethnic background is what makes our country unique and well-rounded; the diversity of both religions and ethnicities is what makes America so rich in knowledge and available experiences, as we can learn and share with one another our cultures and values.
Week 7: Feb 17-25 Indian Engineers Shot in Kansas Article
On Wednesday February 22, two Indian men, Srinivas Kuchibholta and Alok Madasani, were fired upon by a man named Adam W. Purinton in a brutal hate crime simply because they were Indian. It is absolutely disgusting to me to think that we are continuing to have innocent men in this country shot for no reason other than their skin color. As the article makes clear, Kuchibholta and Madasani were simply minding their own business when Purinton verbally assaulted them, and that they remarked that they have encountered similar verbal abuse and ignored it, taking the high road. Purinton left and came back to shoot both men, full of rage over these men's race and presence within the US. It baffles me that a country that has been built on diversity and has made so much progress is still experiencing these unprovoked horrendous crimes of pure hate. These men were completely innocent, have wives and children that no longer have husbands and fathers simply because of one man's hate and prejudice.
Week 8: Feb 26- Mar 4 NY Times Article on Gender Diversity in the Marines
This article delved into a topic I honestly have not given a lot of thought about: women within the military. A recent mandate was just given that allows women within any section of the military; truthfully, I was unaware that there had been previous restrictions on women within the military and their desired fields. This article did a wonderful job revealing how female inclusion in squadrons promoted cohesion and unity, while also bringing attention to the struggles of female officers as they are forced to prove themselves to their male counterparts. I am proud that our military is taking this stride in furthering gender diversity within our military and sees the advantages of including women within all aspects of the military, but this article also made plain that we still have a long way to go before female officers are seen as equals.
Week 9: Mar 11-18 NY Times Article on Trump's New Travel Ban
After the backlash from Trump's first attempt at banning Muslim immigrants to travel into the US, I thought he surely would have seen the atrocity of his actions, and that the American people will protest this type of blatant discrimination. However, it appears that I was wrong, and that Trump has yet again attempted to reinstate a travel ban on Muslims entering the US. Thankfully, action was taken quickly by a Hawaiian judge to curb this new ban, stopping it in its tracks as Trump awaits the ruling of the law on this "watered-down" version of his previous ban. It gives me hope that our country seems to be mostly united on this issue, that individuals within our justice system are taking action to prevent this obvious discrimination, and that Trump's rulings will see examination from a court of law. Fear still remains as our nation's leader so bluntly discriminates against a segment of our people, as Muslims are , have been and will continue to be part of our people, but only time will tell how our country reacts and values religious diversity within our borders.
Week 10: Mar 19-25 NY Times Article on Uber's Release of their Diversity Report
Reading this article, I was shocked that such a major company that I have personally used a number of times would have such a staggering lack of diversity, both in regards to race and gender, among its corporation. Uber has refrained in the past from releasing any statistics on the racial make-up of their workforce, and with good reason: it's appalling. Uber's corporate employees are predominately white males, and an emphasis on aggressiveness resulted in reports of harassment from some of the few women within the corporation. This company's complete lack of acknowledgement of the value and necessity of diversity in the workplace, as well as their blind-eye to the treatment of those who were in the minority within the company, is truly unacceptable and has thrown them into the lime light as the world slashed this thinking and waited to see how Uber planned to fix this issue. This article showed the steps Uber plans to take, particularly an emphasis on transparency with the public, to diversify their company and create a less cut-throat atmosphere that encourages individualism and strength in unity.
Week 11: Mar 26-Apr 2 NY Times Article on Diversity on The Runway
I really liked what this article had to say, and appreciated this idea that the runways have embraced: inclusion. It seems that fashion designers have recognized their unique platform, and are choosing to use it to make a statement about our culture and the need for diversity to be represented in the fashion world. Big name design companies such as Michael Khors and J. Crew have decided to put women of all various shapes, sizes, ethnicities and occupations on the runway, attempting to represent all of the beautiful women that make up our country. Of course, the money-making models continue to be the white, ultra-thin bombshells, but this is a stride in the direction I believe we all want to see high fashion take. Ultimately, our world is changing, and changing rapidly, and I believe it is commendable for these fashion designers to use their platform as a way to make a statement, take a stance on the value of each body shape, skin color, and age. Fashion is just one of the many art forms of today, and it is truly wonderful to watch as this art shifts to address the growing issues of today's world.
Week 12: Apr 3-10 NY Times Article on Approaching Diversity in the Workplace
What an interesting article. The issue of diversity within the workplace is a common topic discussed, but this article took a very different approach from any other article I have ever viewed. This article argued that eradication of prejudice within the workplace was idealistic, but not realistic in the slightest. Instead, this article proposed threatening the salaries and positions of those in charge. Diversity seminars, discussions and encouragement sounds effective until you see it in practice, as managers attend these meetings begrudgingly, envy women and minority members who are hired, and overall have their prejudice enhanced by these diversity requirements. A more realistic approach would be, rather than try to eliminate prejudice, to work around it, and hit racist managers where it hurts: their wallets. I'm not entirely sure I agree with everything this article has to say, but I found its realistic perspective a refreshing change from the optimistic, enthusiastic diversity campaigns that have become commonplace.
Week 13: Apr 11-17 NY Times Article on First Woman to Ever Run Boston Marathon Re-Running it This Year
Wow. Reading this woman's story, how she ran the race when it was still illegal for women to run such marathons, shattering the notion that women were too fragile to participate, is such an inspiration. She really took a leap of faith, put herself out there, and challenged the previous ideas of women as weak, delicate and nonathletic. It also goes to show the progress we have made for women in just one woman's life-time, and I applaud all of the women who took risks, broke the rules and stood against the oppressive norms in order to bolster women and gain us the rights and recognition we deserve. We still have a long way to go, but stories such as this one are reminders that boldly challenging oppression can result in real change. If women across the country could embrace Kathrine Switzer's attitude, crossing boundaries and proving her strength to others, equality is well within our grasp.
Week 14: Apr 18-25 NY Times Article on Gucci's "Soul" Campaign
I feel like this article makes an interesting point on the growing movement for inclusion among models and fashion. Gucci seems to be attempting to jump on the bandwagon of inclusion, using all-black models and centering their campaign around the theme of Soul. However, the entire campaign feels so completely forced and unauthentic. This article addresses an issue that I believe will continue to rise as the value of inclusion and diversity increases: using inclusion as simply another promotive technique. Diversity and value of models of all colors and shapes should be genuine, not forced in order to try to appeal to the growing consumer emphasis on equal representation. Any representation is better than no representation, but I think this article does an excellent job of reminding us that authentic inclusion is important, as well as the importance of recognizing when a company is truly trying to include models of all types, and when it is simply a feigned and desperate attempt to create some artificial version of inclusion.
This week I ventured to my go-to bakery, Sweet Hut, for a pastry to accompany my coffee. Sweet Hut is primarily an Asian American bakery, labeling most of their products in various languages such as Mandarin and Vietnamese in addition to English. I have been stopping by Sweet Hut for years now, not paying too much attention to the people around me but always knowing that the clientele was mostly Asian Americans. This past week, however, as I sat with my danish and coffee, I looked around and saw people with backgrounds from across the globe. From Indian to Asian to African American to Caucasian, it seemed as though every sect of America was represented here in this quaint little pastry shop. It was truly inspiring to watch as this once primarily Asian American business attracted such a diverse group of customers, bringing so many people together into one place.
Week 2: Jan 8-15
This week, while I was walking through the MLC, I overheard I conversation between two people studying at one of the tables. One girl was telling the other about her friend who Caucasian and was dating an African American. The girl had wanted to bring her boyfriend home to meet her parents over the winter break, but her father completely objected, refusing to believe his daughter would be dating someone who was not of her race. Honestly, I was shocked and appalled to overhear this conversation, and couldn't believe that this girl's father truly believed these ideas. I was proud that both girls within the conversation were appalled as well, and the support they had for their friend, stating she should date whomever she likes, regardless of race.
Week 3: Jan 16-23
This week I took a day trip to Winder, GA to watch the sunset at a golf-course with a spectacular view. While I was there, however, it struck me how lacking in diversity this town was. As I strolled through the town, getting lunch and browsing the shops, I noticed the prominance of Caucasians and the lack of all other races. Coming straight from UGA to this small town was a bit of culture shock, as the lack of diversity was a stark contrast to the diversity I encounter daily on campus. It was a harsh reminder that there are still many places not too far from home that are still lagging behind in diversity.
Week 4: Jan 24-31
This week I attended a lecture of a local author, just to see what all he had to say about his work and his life experiences. Sitting and waiting for his talk to begin, I noticed the diversity within the room. People from all various backgrounds and ethnicities lined the walls, all excitedly awaiting the words of the lecturer. I found it very comforting to see how literature and a love for words can span across cultures and backgrounds, creating common-ground and a shared interest that can bond us all.
Week 5: Feb 1-8
This week I was studying in the MLC with some friends of mine, all who are business majors. We shifted locations to be in a room where many other business majors were studying for an upcoming accounting test. As I sat and observed all of these like-minded people working toward the same goal, enthusiastically teaching each other and sharing ideas, I was overwhelmed with a sense of pride as the group contained so many races, languages and backgrounds, a flurry of ethnicities all coming together toward the same goal. It was a little thing, but a strong reminder of how we can all come together, regardless of race and background, and work to achieve the same goal.
Week 6: Feb 9-16
This week, I participated in a discussion regarding the Muslim band with a group of my peers at lunch. I personally am against the ban, as I feel it is wrong to deny someone access to our country on the basis of religious reasons, and see the ban as an embodiment of fear of a people and a religion most of us do not know enough about. Most of my peers agreed, but one man argued that the main cited reason for terrorist attacks within the US are radical religious beliefs. I disagreed with his opinion, stating that every religion has a radical portion of its spectrum, but that the diversity of religion and ethnic background is what makes our country unique and well-rounded; the diversity of both religions and ethnicities is what makes America so rich in knowledge and available experiences, as we can learn and share with one another our cultures and values.
Week 7: Feb 17-25
Indian Engineers Shot in Kansas Article
On Wednesday February 22, two Indian men, Srinivas Kuchibholta and Alok Madasani, were fired upon by a man named Adam W. Purinton in a brutal hate crime simply because they were Indian. It is absolutely disgusting to me to think that we are continuing to have innocent men in this country shot for no reason other than their skin color. As the article makes clear, Kuchibholta and Madasani were simply minding their own business when Purinton verbally assaulted them, and that they remarked that they have encountered similar verbal abuse and ignored it, taking the high road. Purinton left and came back to shoot both men, full of rage over these men's race and presence within the US. It baffles me that a country that has been built on diversity and has made so much progress is still experiencing these unprovoked horrendous crimes of pure hate. These men were completely innocent, have wives and children that no longer have husbands and fathers simply because of one man's hate and prejudice.
Week 8: Feb 26- Mar 4
NY Times Article on Gender Diversity in the Marines
This article delved into a topic I honestly have not given a lot of thought about: women within the military. A recent mandate was just given that allows women within any section of the military; truthfully, I was unaware that there had been previous restrictions on women within the military and their desired fields. This article did a wonderful job revealing how female inclusion in squadrons promoted cohesion and unity, while also bringing attention to the struggles of female officers as they are forced to prove themselves to their male counterparts. I am proud that our military is taking this stride in furthering gender diversity within our military and sees the advantages of including women within all aspects of the military, but this article also made plain that we still have a long way to go before female officers are seen as equals.
Week 9: Mar 11-18
NY Times Article on Trump's New Travel Ban
After the backlash from Trump's first attempt at banning Muslim immigrants to travel into the US, I thought he surely would have seen the atrocity of his actions, and that the American people will protest this type of blatant discrimination. However, it appears that I was wrong, and that Trump has yet again attempted to reinstate a travel ban on Muslims entering the US. Thankfully, action was taken quickly by a Hawaiian judge to curb this new ban, stopping it in its tracks as Trump awaits the ruling of the law on this "watered-down" version of his previous ban. It gives me hope that our country seems to be mostly united on this issue, that individuals within our justice system are taking action to prevent this obvious discrimination, and that Trump's rulings will see examination from a court of law. Fear still remains as our nation's leader so bluntly discriminates against a segment of our people, as Muslims are , have been and will continue to be part of our people, but only time will tell how our country reacts and values religious diversity within our borders.
Week 10: Mar 19-25
NY Times Article on Uber's Release of their Diversity Report
Reading this article, I was shocked that such a major company that I have personally used a number of times would have such a staggering lack of diversity, both in regards to race and gender, among its corporation. Uber has refrained in the past from releasing any statistics on the racial make-up of their workforce, and with good reason: it's appalling. Uber's corporate employees are predominately white males, and an emphasis on aggressiveness resulted in reports of harassment from some of the few women within the corporation. This company's complete lack of acknowledgement of the value and necessity of diversity in the workplace, as well as their blind-eye to the treatment of those who were in the minority within the company, is truly unacceptable and has thrown them into the lime light as the world slashed this thinking and waited to see how Uber planned to fix this issue. This article showed the steps Uber plans to take, particularly an emphasis on transparency with the public, to diversify their company and create a less cut-throat atmosphere that encourages individualism and strength in unity.
Week 11: Mar 26-Apr 2
NY Times Article on Diversity on The Runway
I really liked what this article had to say, and appreciated this idea that the runways have embraced: inclusion. It seems that fashion designers have recognized their unique platform, and are choosing to use it to make a statement about our culture and the need for diversity to be represented in the fashion world. Big name design companies such as Michael Khors and J. Crew have decided to put women of all various shapes, sizes, ethnicities and occupations on the runway, attempting to represent all of the beautiful women that make up our country. Of course, the money-making models continue to be the white, ultra-thin bombshells, but this is a stride in the direction I believe we all want to see high fashion take. Ultimately, our world is changing, and changing rapidly, and I believe it is commendable for these fashion designers to use their platform as a way to make a statement, take a stance on the value of each body shape, skin color, and age. Fashion is just one of the many art forms of today, and it is truly wonderful to watch as this art shifts to address the growing issues of today's world.
Week 12: Apr 3-10
NY Times Article on Approaching Diversity in the Workplace
What an interesting article. The issue of diversity within the workplace is a common topic discussed, but this article took a very different approach from any other article I have ever viewed. This article argued that eradication of prejudice within the workplace was idealistic, but not realistic in the slightest. Instead, this article proposed threatening the salaries and positions of those in charge. Diversity seminars, discussions and encouragement sounds effective until you see it in practice, as managers attend these meetings begrudgingly, envy women and minority members who are hired, and overall have their prejudice enhanced by these diversity requirements. A more realistic approach would be, rather than try to eliminate prejudice, to work around it, and hit racist managers where it hurts: their wallets. I'm not entirely sure I agree with everything this article has to say, but I found its realistic perspective a refreshing change from the optimistic, enthusiastic diversity campaigns that have become commonplace.
Week 13: Apr 11-17
NY Times Article on First Woman to Ever Run Boston Marathon Re-Running it This Year
Wow. Reading this woman's story, how she ran the race when it was still illegal for women to run such marathons, shattering the notion that women were too fragile to participate, is such an inspiration. She really took a leap of faith, put herself out there, and challenged the previous ideas of women as weak, delicate and nonathletic. It also goes to show the progress we have made for women in just one woman's life-time, and I applaud all of the women who took risks, broke the rules and stood against the oppressive norms in order to bolster women and gain us the rights and recognition we deserve. We still have a long way to go, but stories such as this one are reminders that boldly challenging oppression can result in real change. If women across the country could embrace Kathrine Switzer's attitude, crossing boundaries and proving her strength to others, equality is well within our grasp.
Week 14: Apr 18-25
NY Times Article on Gucci's "Soul" Campaign
I feel like this article makes an interesting point on the growing movement for inclusion among models and fashion. Gucci seems to be attempting to jump on the bandwagon of inclusion, using all-black models and centering their campaign around the theme of Soul. However, the entire campaign feels so completely forced and unauthentic. This article addresses an issue that I believe will continue to rise as the value of inclusion and diversity increases: using inclusion as simply another promotive technique. Diversity and value of models of all colors and shapes should be genuine, not forced in order to try to appeal to the growing consumer emphasis on equal representation. Any representation is better than no representation, but I think this article does an excellent job of reminding us that authentic inclusion is important, as well as the importance of recognizing when a company is truly trying to include models of all types, and when it is simply a feigned and desperate attempt to create some artificial version of inclusion.